USWW members work for Unifi Airport Services at SFO as cabin cleaners. On October 16th, 14 union workers were suspended after months of demanding that Unifi address serious issues, including:
- Over $1 million in unpaid back wages;
- Unsanitary working conditions, including reports of cockroach infestations in transport vehicles; and
- Failure to bargain in good faith or treat workers with the respect they deserve.
SFO members immediately took action. “First, we went to San Francisco City Hall and met with the members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the San Francisco Airport Commission to tell them about Unifi’s illegal activity and ask for their support in reaching a solution,” Explains Yutaka, one of the suspended workers and a union shop steward at USWW. “We needed to raise the alarm that there was an employer breaking labor laws at SFO.”
Next the members held a public action at SFO where USWW members gave flyers to passengers explaining Unifi’s illegal activity and asking them to email the Airport Commissioner to say that they supported the suspended workers. They also spoke to local media further raising the alarm.
Their actions brought the Airport Commission and the Board of Supervisors into the matter. Special thanks to San Francisco Supervisor Raphael Mandelman, who met with airport workers and forced an inspection of Unifi break rooms and work vehicles, along with representatives from the City of San Francisco, the airport, and United Airlines.
“Thanks to the action of USWW members, every worker at SFO won!” said Yutaka. Every Unifi worker who was suspended or terminated has been reinstated with full back pay. Our break rooms and work vehicles have been improved. In addition, the airport established a mechanism for workers to report health and safety violations going forward. We showed that, working together as a union, we can’t be bullied and intimidated.”
The work continues as members at SFO are still fighting for back pay and beginning contract negotiations.